Au-Pair Employment Opportunities while
studying

Learn
EnglishImmersion courses in
the U.K. to improve on your English Skills. Stay with host family

Work
AbroadPossibilities to study
whilst working such as an au pair. or as a nanny.

Online
DegreesHow credible are online
degrees? Is it better to do a full time course instead of a distance learning
course?

Working as an Au Pair or Nanny

Working as an Au Pair or nanny can be an excellent way
of experiencing life in another country, whether it is to learn a little
bit more about the culture of that country or about the language of that
country. There are many Au pairs working around the world. Living in a
particular family can be an excellent way of acquiring the language of
that country. Successful au pairs manage to create life long relationships
with the host family (who also tend to be wealthy) as well as friendships
with other nannies, who will consequently find themselves spread across
the world give great opportunities to travel.

The first thing to be aware of is that if you are going to work as an
au pair, you should be fond of children. You will spend most of your time
with the children, caring for them, putting up with their tantrums etc.
when their parents might not have time or energy to do so. One thing that
will make you a hit with the parents, is that if you show that you genuinely
like their children, and care for them, they will be much happier with
you. If you do not really have a strong affinity for children that much,
you will be making a big mistake.

What are the duties of an Au Pair?

Although you will spend your free time in any way you want, your main
duty as an au pair will be to provide childcare and act as a nanny for
the children in your host family. For most au pairs, typical nannying
jobs are preparing snacks and meals, taking the children to school and
to after school activities, monitoring homework and baby sitting. Amongst
others, your duties might include;

waking the children, dressing infants and toddlers,
bathing and playing with them

preparing meals for the children, tidying away their
belongings, making their beds and doing their laundry

driving the children to or from school, appointments
and outings

helping the children with their homework

babysitting for the children while they are asleep
if the parents are not at home

Studying

When registering with the agency that finds you work, you should make
it clear that you also want to study english, or the language of the host's
country. They will try to arrange that you have a regular time off each
week to attend language classes. In the USA it is actively encouraged
that you study English, It is a visa requirement that au pairs take educational
classes for no less than 6 semester hours of academic credit - this averages
3 hours per week for 30 weeks.

Official au pair agencies

Contact IAPA , the International Au Pairs' Association to get a list
of IAPA Members in the country where you live and are a resident. Check
with the IAPA that the agency is recognized by the IAPA.

The IAPA agency will provide you with:-

orientation materials about the host country

pre-departure assistance with regard to visas, transportation
and insurance

information about language schools and study opportunities
in the host country

contact lists of other au pairs in the vicinity
information about social and cultural opportunities in the host country

support from the host au pair organisation including
emergency cover

careful screening and matching to the host country

help from the host au pair organisation in case of
problems within the family including re-matching with a new family

Disclaimer: The information on these pages
are provided by the schools themselves. World Wide Schools takes no responsibility
for any inaccuracies or omissions.
If you are a representative of this school and wish to correct information,
please click on http://www.english-schools.org/form.htm
and submit any corrections.